I am an ARTist - she proudly proclaimed !

Yesterday I received a surprise text from my dear friend Xanthe of xsentertainment, inviting me to a performance at the Power House in Brisbane... she said 'I think you'll like it' ... what a gift... to have  a friend who is willing to share an opportunity like that with me.... so I decided to say 'Yes Please'!  and off we set at 6pm last night for just over an hour's drive to watch a one woman show for 50 minutes ... and drive back home.. and I am SO GLAD I DID!

BRISBANE POWERHOUSE PRESENTS 
LE FOULARD
WED 24 - SAT 27 APR 2013
Winner Best Theatre Award 2013 Adelaide Fringe
 
This, ladies and gentlemen, is an art show, made with love by an idiot.

Starring a medley of characters, overwhelmed by a love of a show-stopping song and performed using only a scarf, British-based Lucy Hopkins brings her brilliantly crafted and hilarious one-woman show to Australian shores.

---

I only just noticed that tag line 'This, ladies and gentlemen, is an art show, made with love by an idiot.'  and I am struck... with a tinge of dismay... Why did she call herself an idiot?  Is is because of the huge committment of time and energy it most certainly must take to show up and do this show over and over?  
Because... I wanted to encapsulate a hint of what I received from this outstanding performance ... so very much, I may not be able to sufficiently put it into words!  
Her opening line with outstretched arms and generous scarf draped across her shoulders and down her sides was  "I am an ARTist!" and yes, it was meant to be funny... or... was it...

I witnessed one woman captivate an entire audience, draw them in and project her energy to sometimes fill that room to the ceiling.  One woman! who inhabited several characters that were each so complete and believable and the change from one to the next was seamless.  I was mesmerised, and laugh... there were so many times I just burst into laughter... face hurting laughter at some points. A beautiful song in French, with translation after each phrase the first time around so we were carried along with the lyrics that reached in and touched our hearts, her delicate voice reminscent of old French Films or cabaret, I'm not certain of which. A dramatic strong masculine like character with statuesque form was a dominant voice amongst them. By the end of the show I had been through a whole gammit of emotions and was 'full'. Like after an exquisite meal, nothing was missed, each course delicately prepared and presented with the right portion size and accompaniments.  I am in awe of this one woman who showed such absolute abandonment of concern over 'what people may think' and showed up and gave a performance like I have never experienced before.  Xanthe and I had plenty to talk about on our drive home, including glowing praise for this one woman show that had delighted us so fully on a 'school night in Apirl 2013'.

Lucy Hopkins

On my beach walk this mornng I was recreating in my mind some of her movements and segments... and it occurred to me that I am a 'one woman show' we each are... we have the opportunity right now, to show up for our life, and live it out loud, and to the fullest, and the GIFT of seeing and experiencing and feeling this woman's performance last night was that it made me want to be BRAVER. 

my lovely friend Xanthe - #I'mSoNotAPhotographer!

sigh.
with love,
Denise xo